Machine gun



A. BOCHNAK Dec. 10, 1935.

MACHINE GUN 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 6, 1934 ATTO RN EY A. BOCHNAK Dec. 10, 1935.

MACHINE GUN Filed Sept. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet v k INVENTOR BY fm fio;

ATTO RN EY M\ Bani? 4 She ets-Sheet 3 A. BOCHNAK MACHINE GUN Filed Sept. 6, 1934 ATTORNEY A. BOCHNAK MACHINE GUN Filed Sept. 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY yra/224L112;

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1935 rem orrica 1 Claim.

This invention relates to machine guns and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be fired from the shoulder or from a tripod and may be actuated either by a rotatable crank or a slidable trigger and is automatically fed with ammunition by a belt during actuation of the crank or trigger.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a machine gun constructed in accordance with my invention or adapted for operation or firing from the shoulder.

Figure 2 is an end elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation illustrating the machine gun adapted for use on a tripod.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the operative parts with the side cover plates removed.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 65 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on the line 'I-l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the firing pin operating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the rotors for accommodating the ammunition and aligning each shell with the bore of a barrel.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the rotors.

Figure 12 is a plan view illustrating a hammer actuating gear.

Figure 13 is a side elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 14 is a plan viev illustrating a ratchet mechanism.

Figure 15 is a side elevation illustrating a stop.

Figure 16 is a plan view illustrating the same.

Figure 1'7 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the cartridge belt.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the same.

Figure 19 is an end view, partly in section, illustrating an ammunition rack.

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 2B20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a plan view illustrating a portion 5 of the tripod.

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Figure 21.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l indicates in entirety a machine gun 10 which is constructed to be fired from either the shoulder, as shown in Figure 1, or may be mounted to a tripod 2, as disclosed in Figure 3. The gun i includes a breech frame 3 having secured thereto a stock 4 and a barrel 5. A portion of 15 the barrel is exteriorly ribbed to aid in cooling the barrel. The sides of the frame I are closed by removable covers 6 and arranged in and forming an integral part of the frame and spaced from the end of the gun barrel is a breech block 0 l, the latter forming an ammunition chamber 8 and a chamber ID to accommodate an operating mechanism which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Upper and lower rotors l l are journaled in the 25 ammunition chamber 8 and each are provided with a series of semicircular shaped recesses I2. The recesses open out through the peripheries of the rotors so that when said recesses come together during the rotation of said rotors shell chambers are provided. The periphery of one of the rotors has sockets l3 to receive teeth or projections lion the other rotor. The shaft of the latter-named rotor is extended to enter the chamber l0 and is equipped with a pinion I5 meshing with a gear l6 secured to an operating shaft IT. The operating shaft l1 extends transversely of the chamber Ill and is rotatably supported by the frame with one end projecting outwardly of the chamber ill and has removably secured thereto a crank handle l8. The rotation of the operating shaft l1 rotates the rotors, one of the latter being driven by the other and passing between said rotors is an ammunition belt ment with the bore of the barrel with the cap end of the shell in engagement with the breech. A firing pin 22 operates through the breech, as shown in Figure 4, and is of the spring pressed type normally urged into engagement with a pivotally mounted hammer 23. The pivoted end of the hammer carries a tapered projection 24 engaging with teeth of a hammer operating gear 25 secured to the operating shaft H. A coil spring 26 is connected to the hammer for maintaining the projection of said hammer in the path of the teeth of the hammer actuating gear 25. During the rotation of the operating shaft I! the hammer will receive an intermittent pivotal movement causing actuation of the firing pin at timed intervals to strike the shells or caps thereof when said shells move into position or alignment with the bore of the barrel.

A stop 2'! is located in the ammunition chamber of the gun frame and has a portion 29 which is adapted to be engaged by the bullet portion of the shell when the shell moves into position for firing so that the bullet will be aligned with the bore of the barrel. After the bullet leaves the shell when fired, the exploded shell is then free to move out of the gun due to the fact that the portion 29 only contacts with the bullet.

The hammer actuating gear 25 is integral with a ratchet gear 28 and the latter is engaged by a pivotally mounted dog 29' so that the operating shaft I! may only be rotated in one direction. A rack bar pinion 30 is journaled to the operating shaft I! and meshes with a slidably mounted rack bar 3!, one end of which terminates in a trigger or finger piece 32. The pinion 39 carries the dog 29 and the latter engages the ratchet gear 28 and said gear 28 being integral with the hammer gear 25, establishes a ratchet drive between the rack bar and the shaft I1. By sliding the rack bar 3! the hammer 23 may be actuated. Thus it will be seen that the hammer can be either operated by the finger piece 32 or the crank handle [8. It is preferable to employ the finger piece 32 for the actuation of the hammer when the gun is being fired from the shoulder and to employ the crank handle when the gun is used upon the tripod 2. A spring 39 is secured to the rack bar 3| for returning the latter to its initial position on the manual release of the finger piece 32. A magazine rack 33 is removably mounted to the gun frame and has rotatably mounted therein a reel-like element 34 on which the loaded ammunition belt may be wound. The ammunition belt leaves the rack by way of an entrance 35 to enter the magazine chamber or to feed in between the rotors. The entrance 35 is partially closed by a hinged door which may be opened by the mounting of the loaded belt on the reel. The rack 33 is equipped with flanges 35 received in grooves 31 of spaced lugs 38 carried by the gun frame whereby the rack may be removed from the gun frame when employing the gun on the tripod. The lugs 38 and their grooves 31 are employed for connecting the upper structure of the tripod thereto. This upper structure is of pivotal construction whereby the gun may be readily aimed.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A machine gun including a frame having an ammunition chamber and an ammunition supply means, a firing pin mechanism carried by said frame, an operating shaft journaled to said frame, means connecting said shaft to said ammunition supplying means, a spring-pressed hammer pivoted to said frame and engaging the firing pin mechanism, a gear projection formed on said hammer, a hammer gear secured to the shaft and engaged by the projection to impart pivotal movement to the hammer, a ratchet gear formed on the hammer gear, a rack pinion journaled on said shaft, a spring retrieved rack bar slidably secured to said frame and meshing with the rack pinion, a ratchet dog engaging the ratchet gear and carried by said rack pinion to drive said shaft in one direction by the rack bar, a finger piece formed on the rack bar, and a crank handle secured to said shaft whereby the latter may be driven in said direction independent of the rack bar.

ANDREW BOCI-INAK. 

